Obesity: does it modulate infectious disease and immunity?
Edelman, R.
Progress in Clinical and Biological Research 67: 327-337
1981
ISSN/ISBN: 0361-7742 PMID: 7029562 Document Number: 175996
The little known interaction of morbid obesity, hyperlipidemia, and dietary fats with infectious agents and immunocompetent cells (ICs) is reviewed and assessed. Studies specially considered include the interrelationships of lipids and infections in animals and humans, the influence of lipids in immune function, and the special case of obesity. Obesity, high-fat diets, and excess lipids interact with infectious agents and ICs in several ways; resistance to some infectious and autoimmune diseases are enhanced by high fat diets to inbred mice. It is known that the potential for surgical wound infections in obese humans is increased while tubercular death risk was decreased; in mice fed saturated fatty acids (coconut oil), conclusive data on the interaction of lipids and autoimmune disease, however, do not exist. Certain fatty acids (and cholesterol) are strong modulators of T-lymphocyte and phagocyte functions in test animals and in vitro leukocyte cultures. In humans, however, immune function modulation by dietary lipids remains uncertain. (wz)